Son Denies Actor’s Molestation Claim Against Franco Zeffirelli

The son of Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli has issued a statement denying sexual molestation allegations against his father from actor Johnathon Schaech.

Pippo Zeffirelli said in the statement Thursday that the allegations appeared to be “a true and proper vendetta,” and he questioned the timing of lodging them at a moment when the 94-year-old director is unable to defend himself because of his failing health.

Johnathon SchaechGetty Images Schaech wrote in People magazine that he was 22 years old when he went to work on the film “Sparrow” in 1992, and that Zeffirelli had tried to seduce him from the start.

The allegation is part of a wave of sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood, media, politics, business and elsewhere that began in October when movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.